Vollum/NGP Undergraduate Summer Research Program
The Vollum/NGP Undergraduate Summer Research Program offers summer undergraduate research internships with a stipend that covers housing and living expenses. Preference is given to students with strong interest in Ph.D. training in neuroscience.
Talented young scientists from around the United States and overseas are selected through a competitive application process. Students are partnered with labs where they pursue independent research in molecular, cellular, and behavioral neuroscience. In addition to working in the lab, students attend regular classes on the principles of modern neuroscience, and receive valuable mentoring on applying to graduate school and pursuing careers in science.
Interested applicants can check out participating laboratories by clicking on the Neuroscience Research tab to browse research topics that are available. The program runs for 8 weeks from mid-June to mid-August. A stipend and housing is provided as well as a travel reimbursement. International applicants must be enrolled in a US institution prior to the start of the summer program.
The application opens on November 1, 2024 and closes on Feb 1, 2025.
We highly encourage undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds to apply to our program. The OHSU campus also has a Equity Summer Research Program specifically for underrepresented minority students. Interested students are urged to apply to both programs as students in the OHSU-wide program can work in NGP labs.
Summer Program FAQs
The program begins on June 23 and ends on August 15. Arrival in Portland is the weekend prior, June 21-22, and departure is the Saturday, August 16.
You are eligible if you meet the following criteria:
- Be entering your sophomore, junior, and senior year in college and not be scheduled to graduate before December 2025.
- Have a genuine interest in pursuing a PhD in neuroscience
Yes, but you must already be enrolled at a US institution in order to qualify for CPT. The process of using CPT for the summer program must be coordinated between you and your current US institution.
Labs will be assigned based on the interests you included in the application. Projects and labs vary widely each summer due to availability and capacity of the faculty and labs.
The stipend is $3,000 for the summer. The program covers the cost of housing, travel to and from the program, and provides a transit pass during your time here.
Housing is managed through Portland State University (PSU). You can expect to have a roommate in a suite with a kitchen. Pots, pans and some dishes are provided. Access to the laundry facilities and the dining room is available. Meals are not covered. Gym access is included.
No. Unfortunately, if you choose to live at home or elsewhere, we cannot adjust your stipend higher.
Parking while at PSU and OHSU can be purchased, but the cost is high. We highly recommend that you leave your car behind. Transport passes are provided at no charge to help you get from PSU to OHSU and around Portland.